Page 53 of No Remedy for Love

“She’s good, just complaining like always. She’s talking about she needs to go spin the wheel at the casino for the big jackpot.”

“Tell her to go sit down somewhere. She just got out of the damn hospital,” Remi laughed. Zita always offered to bring her, but Blaze never let it happen.

“I told her that I’ll bring her when she’s feeling better. She’s not wheezing anymore but she’s been doing a lot of coughing.”

“How has she been sleeping?”

“Not good. It’s off and on but she doesn’t stay sleep that long no more.”

“Yeah, I know. They feel like they’re suffocating when they lay flat. Have you been propping her up with pillows like I showed you?”

“Yeah, I have.” Blaze sighed.

“I know it’s a lot, Blaze but I commend you for the way you take care of her.”

He didn’t know it but that was one of the things that attracted her to him. Taking care of someone you love and slowly watching them die wasn’t for the weak. She didn’t really have a life when her father was sick because she devoted all of her time to him.

“I’m doing for her what she’s always done for me,” Blaze replied right as his grandmother started coughing. He hurriedly ended his call with Remi to make sure she was good.

“I’m okay, baby. Just feels like something is in my throat,” Bertha said when Blaze jumped up to see about her.

“Here, drink some water.” Blaze held the cup and guided the straw to her mouth. Bertha took a few sips and seemed to be okay after that.

“Thank you, baby. I thought you were going play basketball.”

“I am but not until later.”

“Your mama said you can call her to stay here with me sometimes instead of Zita.”

“When did you talk to my mama?”

“They’ve been calling me a lot lately.”

“Who is they?” Blaze knew that some bullshit was brewing and he could smell it a mile away.

“All of my kids. They were asking if all of my affairs were in order, but I wasn’t trying to get into all that mess with them.”

“What mess, Nana? I can tell that you’re holding back what you really wanna say. What happened?”

“I told them that they had to talk to you about all of that, and they got upset. They don’t feel like a grandchild should have control over everything.”

“What do you think? Your opinion is the only one that matters.”

“I set everything up exactly the way it should be and I’m not changing nothing. Al told them about the money I won. He told them that I gave it all to you and that was some more mess.”

“That is your money and it’s being used on you. You have bills, Nana. Your insurance doesn’t cover all of your medical expenses. You don’t owe nobody no explanations.”

“They know I’m gonna die and they wanna get their hands on whatever lil bit I do have. They never gave a care about me before. Zita is only here because she’s being paid. It’s been me and you since day one and nothing has changed.”

“Stop always talking about dying, Nana.”

“Well, all of us have to go one day.” Bertha shrugged.

“And I don’t want my mama or none of your other kids to stay with you while I’m gone. If Zita can’t do it, I’ll hire a sitter if I have to.”

“Good cause I don’t want their asses here either. Where is Remi?”

“She’ll be here in a few.”

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